ASCO Annual Meeting Private Dining
ASCO Chicago Private Dinners, Pharma Events & Oncology Team Gatherings at NIA
The ASCO Annual Meeting brings the global oncology community to Chicago for several days of clinical research, education, scientific discussion, professional meetings and industry networking. Physicians, oncology teams, researchers, hospital leaders, pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, medical affairs professionals and healthcare organisations spend long days at McCormick Place before many of those conversations continue over dinner.
NIA Restaurant & Wine Bar in Chicago’s West Loop gives ASCO attendees an off-site setting for private dinners, pharma client events, hospital team gatherings, leadership dinners and professional group dining built around Mediterranean-inspired shared food, wine and conversation.
The 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting has now concluded. The next meeting is already confirmed: the 2027 ASCO Annual Meeting takes place June 4–8, 2027 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
Step away from the convention environment and give your ASCO guests a West Loop table where professional relationships can continue in a calmer setting.
ASCO 2027
June 4–8, 2027 at McCormick Place in Chicago
ASCO has officially confirmed the 2027 Annual Meeting in Chicago. The meeting returns to McCormick Place for five days of oncology research, scientific programming, education, exhibits and professional networking.
Dates
June 4–8, 2027
The next confirmed ASCO Annual Meeting.
Location
Chicago
The meeting returns to Chicago, Illinois.
Venue
McCormick Place
NIA is an off-site West Loop dining destination.
Plan Around NIA's Current Schedule
The Best ASCO 2027 Dinner Nights at NIA
ASCO 2027 runs from Friday, June 4 through Tuesday, June 8. Under NIA’s currently published regular hours, Friday, Saturday and Tuesday are the most straightforward opportunities for ASCO dining.
NIA currently opens Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday and Monday are listed as closed under the regular schedule, so those nights should not be promoted as ASCO dining opportunities unless special conference-week hours are officially announced.
Current ASCO 2027 planning guidance: prioritise Friday June 4, Saturday June 5 and Tuesday June 8 for dinners at NIA. Sunday June 6 and Monday June 7 should only be offered if NIA later confirms special service.
This distinction is especially important for pharma companies, hospitals and larger healthcare groups organising invitations months ahead. Final event communications should always use confirmed restaurant hours rather than assuming NIA is open simply because ASCO programming is taking place.
After McCormick Place
Private Dining for ASCO Attendees in Chicago
An ASCO dinner often serves a different purpose from an ordinary group meal. Guests may have spent the day discussing clinical data, research collaborations, healthcare strategy, medical education, partnerships or developments presented during the meeting. By evening, the setting needs to allow those relationships to continue without recreating the intensity of the conference floor.
NIA offers ASCO groups a West Loop restaurant environment built around shared Mediterranean-inspired dining. The change of setting can help guests move from scheduled sessions and crowded convention spaces into a slower evening centred on food, hospitality and conversation.
For smaller groups, that may mean a reserved dinner table. Larger groups can contact NIA to discuss current group dining and private-event options. The correct format should depend on the guest list, purpose of the evening and restaurant availability rather than forcing every ASCO event into the same package.
A restaurant can provide greater separation from the conference environment, but hosts should still choose an appropriate venue for genuinely confidential or regulated discussions. Private dining creates a more focused social setting; it should not be treated as a substitute for a secure meeting room when formal confidentiality is required.
Pharma & Biotech
ASCO Pharma Client Dinners
ASCO brings pharmaceutical, biotechnology and healthcare-industry teams into the same city as clinicians, researchers, institutional leaders, consultants and professional partners. Dinner provides more time for relationship-building than a brief conversation between meetings or exhibits.
A pharma client dinner at NIA can be structured around a smaller reserved table or a larger group format depending on the guest list. Shared food keeps the atmosphere social while giving attendees time to reconnect away from the convention environment.
The strongest hospitality does not need to turn dinner into another presentation. A thoughtful restaurant setting, good pacing and enough space for conversation can allow professional relationships to develop more naturally.
Companies planning hosted ASCO dinners should begin early because major medical-meeting weeks can create significant competition for preferred restaurant times.
Hospitals & Oncology Teams
Department Dinners and Team Gatherings
ASCO also brings oncology departments, research groups, academic medical teams, physicians, nurses, administrators and colleagues from different institutions together in Chicago.
Dinner may be the first time during the day that the entire group can sit together. Team members who attended different sessions can compare what they learned, discuss research that stood out and reconnect with colleagues they may see only during major meetings.
A shared Mediterranean dinner supports that type of evening because the table can order collectively while the conversation remains the focus.
For departments travelling with larger groups, arranging the dinner before arriving in Chicago can simplify coordination and give everyone one confirmed location after the meeting day.
Ways to Gather
ASCO Dinner and Event Formats at NIA
ASCO hospitality can take several forms depending on who is attending and what the host wants the evening to accomplish.
Pharma Client Dinner
Host clinicians, hospital leaders, professional partners or strategic guests around a relaxed restaurant table away from McCormick Place.
Hospital Team Dinner
Bring departments, research teams, fellows and colleagues together after sessions to reconnect over shared food and drinks.
Medical Affairs Dinner
Create an off-site setting for professional hospitality and relationship-building with colleagues and invited guests.
Leadership Dinner
Give executives and senior team members a defined West Loop destination after a full day of meetings and conference programming.
Wine & Shared Plates
Keep the evening social with Mediterranean-inspired food, wine and conversation rather than an overly structured dinner format.
Private Group Event
Contact NIA in advance to discuss current private-event and group-dining possibilities for larger ASCO gatherings.
Shared Mediterranean Dining
A Menu Format That Works for Professional Groups
A conference group often arrives at dinner with different appetites and different schedules. Some guests may have eaten during an earlier event, while others may be ready for a full meal after spending the day at McCormick Place.
NIA’s Mediterranean-inspired shared format gives the table flexibility. Guests can begin with several small plates, vegetables or salads and add larger dishes as the evening develops. Shared food also encourages interaction across the table rather than turning the gathering into several separate individual meals.
For larger groups, NIA offers group dining options that can simplify ordering and service. Hosts should review the restaurant’s current group menu when organising the event because dishes, pricing and availability can change.
Alcohol should remain optional in professional hospitality. NIA serves wine and cocktails, while hosts can also plan for guests who prefer non-alcoholic beverages.
From McCormick Place to West Loop
Why Leave the Convention District for Dinner?
Dining close to McCormick Place can be convenient, but some ASCO hosts want the evening to feel clearly separate from the conference day. Moving to Chicago’s West Loop gives the group that transition.
NIA is located at 803 W. Randolph Street in one of Chicago’s established restaurant districts. It is not a McCormick Place restaurant, and attendees should allow realistic travel time between the convention center and their reservation.
The distance can be part of the appeal. Guests leave the convention environment behind and enter a neighbourhood built around restaurants, hospitality and evening dining. For visiting attendees, that also adds a genuine Chicago experience to a trip that might otherwise take place almost entirely between conference halls and hotels.
Use live navigation on the day of the reservation because conference traffic, rideshare demand, weather and city conditions can affect the trip.
Professional Hospitality
Make the Dinner Feel Considered, Not Generic
During a major meeting such as ASCO, restaurant choice becomes part of the invitation. Guests may receive several dinner invitations during the same week, which means the experience should feel intentional without becoming unnecessarily elaborate.
A West Loop restaurant can give visiting guests something beyond another hotel or convention-adjacent meal. Shared dishes, warm hospitality and a comfortable table allow the host to focus on the people attending rather than trying to make the evening feel like another programmed event.
For companies or organisations entertaining guests, that distinction can make the dinner feel more personal and memorable.
Conversation First
A Calmer Setting After a Dense Meeting Day
ASCO days can involve continuous sessions, meetings, exhibits and professional conversations. An evening meal should give guests enough room to slow down.
That does not mean the professional discussion has to stop. It means the environment allows people to speak at a more natural pace, listen properly and spend time together without simultaneously moving toward the next conference appointment.
NIA’s restaurant setting is intended for dining and hospitality. When a group requires a specific degree of privacy, hosts should discuss the available event configuration directly with the restaurant rather than assuming any standard table provides confidentiality.
June 4–8, 2027
Planning ASCO 2027 Dinner Nights
The confirmed meeting dates make it possible to begin planning hospitality now, while NIA’s existing operating schedule helps identify the evenings that currently align most naturally.
Friday, June 4
NIA currently serves dinner Friday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., making opening day a practical option for an ASCO team or client dinner.
Saturday, June 5
Saturday service currently runs from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., giving groups another strong conference-week dinner night.
Sunday, June 6
NIA is currently closed Sunday under its regular schedule. Do not promote Sunday ASCO dining unless special hours are confirmed.
Monday, June 7
Monday is also currently closed under NIA’s regular schedule and would require confirmed special service.
Tuesday, June 8
NIA currently opens Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., providing a final-night option after the Annual Meeting.
Planning a Larger Event?
Contact NIA directly before sending invitations so the date, group format and current event availability can be confirmed.
NIA Restaurant & Wine Bar
Plan Your ASCO Dinner in Chicago
NIA currently opens Tuesday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday and Monday are closed under the regular published schedule.
For ASCO 2027, organisers should reconfirm both restaurant hours and event availability before sending final invitations, particularly for larger private-dining or group requests.
ASCO Annual Meeting 2027
Give Your ASCO Guests a West Loop Destination After McCormick Place
ASCO returns to Chicago June 4–8, 2027. For pharma teams, biotechnology companies, hospitals, oncology departments, medical professionals and professional partners planning time together outside the conference, NIA offers a West Loop setting centred on Mediterranean-inspired shared dining and hospitality.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions About ASCO Dining at NIA
When is the ASCO Annual Meeting 2027?
The 2027 ASCO Annual Meeting takes place June 4–8, 2027 in Chicago.
Where is ASCO 2027 being held?
ASCO 2027 is being held at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois.
Is ASCO 2026 over?
Yes. The 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting took place May 29 through June 2, 2026 in Chicago. The next meeting is confirmed for June 4–8, 2027.
Where can ASCO attendees host a private dinner in Chicago?
NIA Restaurant & Wine Bar at 803 W. Randolph Street offers West Loop group dining and private-event options for ASCO attendees, subject to availability and the restaurant’s current event configurations.
Can pharma companies host ASCO client dinners at NIA?
Yes. NIA can work for pharma and biotechnology client dinners, professional hospitality and group gatherings. Hosts planning larger events should contact the restaurant in advance.
Can hospital and oncology teams organise ASCO dinners at NIA?
Yes. Hospital departments, oncology groups, research teams and colleagues can use a dinner as a place to regroup after the meeting day and spend time together outside McCormick Place.
Is NIA at McCormick Place?
No. NIA is located at 803 W. Randolph Street in Chicago’s West Loop. Guests should allow travel time between McCormick Place and the restaurant.
What are the best ASCO 2027 nights for dinner at NIA?
Under NIA’s current regular schedule, Friday June 4, Saturday June 5 and Tuesday June 8 are the most straightforward ASCO 2027 dinner nights.
Is NIA open Sunday during ASCO 2027?
NIA’s currently published regular schedule lists Sunday as closed. Sunday should not be promoted as an ASCO dinner night unless the restaurant announces special service.
Is NIA open Monday during ASCO 2027?
NIA is currently closed Monday under its regular schedule. Any special ASCO Monday service would need to be confirmed directly with the restaurant.
Does NIA offer group dining?
Yes. NIA offers group dining options built around shared food. ASCO organisers should review the current group menu and discuss availability with the restaurant before making final plans.
Does NIA offer private events?
NIA offers private-event and group-event options. The appropriate setup, availability and dining format should be confirmed directly with the restaurant for the requested ASCO date.
What kind of food does NIA serve?
NIA serves Mediterranean-inspired cuisine with a shared dining format that can include vegetables, small plates, seafood, meat dishes, salads, pizza and other current menu selections.
Does NIA serve wine and cocktails?
Yes. NIA offers wine and cocktails alongside its dinner menu. Non-alcoholic choices can also be incorporated for guests who prefer not to drink.
Is private dining appropriate for confidential ASCO discussions?
A private or group restaurant setting can reduce distractions and create a more focused environment, but it should not be treated as a secure confidential meeting room. Hosts discussing regulated, proprietary or sensitive information should choose an environment appropriate to their confidentiality requirements.
Should ASCO groups reserve early?
Yes. The ASCO Annual Meeting brings a large professional audience to Chicago, and preferred dinner times can become competitive. Larger client dinners and group events should be planned well ahead of meeting week.
What are NIA's current hours?
NIA currently lists Tuesday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday and Monday are closed under the regular schedule.
Is NIA affiliated with ASCO?
No. NIA Restaurant & Wine Bar is an independent Chicago restaurant and is not affiliated with the American Society of Clinical Oncology or the ASCO Annual Meeting. ASCO is referenced only to help meeting attendees plan dining and group events.
